NRA RE-ELECTS PRELATE MARDIROSSIAN, NEW RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS

GLENDALE--The 36th National Representative Assembly convened Friday afternoon at St. Mary's Church in Glendale. Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, presided over the assembly which concluded on Saturday.
During the two-day assembly, the activities of the Prelate and the Religious and Executive Councils were evaluated and activities for the forthcoming year were proposed and drafted. The election of the Prelate and Councils also took place.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian was re-elected for a fourth term as Prelate. The new Religious Council was elected as follows: Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian, Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian, Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian, and Rev. Fr. Vahan Gosdanian.
The new Executive Council was elected as follows: Dr. Garo Agopian, Garo Avakian, Nerses Melkonian, Varoujan Der Simonian, Mher Der Ohanessian, Dr. Navasart Kazazian, Vahe Havaguimian, Levon Kirakossian, Khatchig Yeretzian, Vahrij Pilavjian, and Garo Eshgian.
Details of the assembly will be published in future editions of Asbarez.

POPE FAILS TO CALL 1915 EVENTS A GENOCIDE

THE VATICAN (Combined Sources)--Pope Benedict XVI on Friday avoided the word Genocide pronounced several times by his predecessor John Paul II and referred to the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915-1923 as the "martyrdom" of the Armenian Apostolic Church during a visit by Catholicos Karekin II.
Karekin II, on the fourth and final day of a visit to the Vatican, had on Wednesday urged "all nations to universally denounce the Armenian genocide" in a speech to some 20,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square.
On Friday, however, the pope said: "The recent history of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been written in the contrasting colors of persecution and martyrdom, darkness and hope, humiliation and spiritual rebirth."
"The restoration of freedom to the Church in Armenia has been a source of great joy for us all," the 81-year-old pontiff added.
The European Armenian Federation recalled that Vatican already recognized the Armenian Genocide through a joint declaration of John Paul II and Karekin II in 2000. “We commend the courage and the determination of both the Apostolic Armenian and Catholic Roman Churches about this deep moral failure represented by the Armenian Genocide and its denial. We call upon the Heads of the States and of Governments to pay attention to these Voices of Wisdom and Lucidity in recognizing, if not yet, the Armenian Genocide” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.
“We call especially the European authorities to uphold the European values in adopting provisions to prevent and to repress the crime of denial as the 1948 Covenant represses the crime of genocide” concluded Tchoboian
In November 2000, a meeting at the Vatican between John Paul II and Karekin II ended with a joint statement condemning the Armenian Genocide.
The following year, at Karekin II's invitation, the Polish pope traveled to Armenia where the two religious leaders again spoke of "the extermination of one-and-a-half million Armenian Christians" in the first genocide of the 20th century. John Paul II also spoke of the "annihilation" of thousands of people that followed under the former totalitarian regime," referring to Soviet-era religious persecutions.
On Friday, Karekin II invited Benedict XVI to visit Armenia both in his own name and on behalf of new President Serzh Sarkisian. The two religious leaders had private talks after the pope led an ecumenical celebration in the Apostolic Palace's Clementine Hall.

ARMENIAN PARTIES CALL FOR PEACE, DIALOGUE IN LEBANON

BEIRUT--The Lebanan branches of the three traditional Armenian political parties on Friday called on the clashing pro-government and opposition forces in Lebanon to put an end to bloodshed that began last week and engage in dialogue.
The Lebanon branches of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Armenian Democratic League (Ramkavar Azatakan Party) and Social Democratic Hunchakian Party met in Beirut on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of civil unrest in Lebanon.
“The absence of political dialogue and the ensuing security breaches demand that all political forces in Lebanon exercise understanding and undertake measures for serious and productive dialogue to restore national unity,” said the announcement.
“The three political parties believe the people of Lebanon will overcome this difficult situation and will return Lebanon to its past glory,” added the announcement by the political parties.
Lebanan based Aztag Daily Editor Shahan Kandaharian said in a phone interview with Asbarez.
“The recent events remind of the civil war in Lebanon,” Kandaharian said. “The clashes, which are mainly between pro-government and opposition forces have resulted in Hezbolla taking complete control over the western districts of Beirut.”
He explained that the situation is tense in the northern and mountainous parts of Lebanon where the opposition has also taken control. Clashes have occured at the Syrian border, while the highway to Damascus was blocked. Hezbolla has blocked the roads to the airport and all flights in and out of Lebanon have been delayed. The Armenian air carrier, Armavia, has also stopped its flights to Beirut.
So far, the Armenian-populated districts of Beirut have remained unharmed, Kandaharian explained. The roads to the Becca region are blocked but the Armenian village of Anjar is still safe since no clashes have occurred there.
“The Armenian community [in Lebaon] has found itself in a new situation since many were planning to travel to Armenia,” Kandaharian noted. “Because of this, it was impossible to celebrate the Shushi liberation anniversary.”
Before the violence erupted in Lebanon, the ARF youth organizations and committees managed to hold several events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Karabakh Self Determination Movement. But some of the cultural events have been postponed until peace returns, he explained.
Fierce fighting erupted in northern Lebanon on Monday, further exacerbating tensions after days of deadly sectarian battles that have driven the nation to the brink of full-blown civil war.
At least one man was killed in clashes between supporters of the government and opposition in the port city of Tripoli, a security official told AFP.
By late afternoon the fighting had died down as the army moved in and appealed to militants to stop fighting and go home.